Fruit Medley with Mint and Lime

Take advantage of the fact that stone fruits - peaches, nectarines, apricots, plums - are in peak season right now, and toss together this delicious combination. You could serve it either as a salad or a dessert.

In a large bowl, combine 1 cup halved green grapes, 1 cup halved red grapes, 3 plums (cut into 1/2 inch wedges), 2 peeled peaches (cut into 1/2 inch wedges) and 2 nectarines (cut into 1/2 inch wedges). Cover and chill.

Remove 6, 2-inch strips carefully from 2 limes, being careful not to get too much of the white pith (a vegetable peeler works well). Place the strips in a saucepan along with one cup water, 1/4 cup raw sugar, and 6 mint sprigs (I wasn't sure if a 'sprig' meant one leaf or one little cluster of leaves, so I did a bit of each). Bring the mixture to a boil, and continue to cook for about 5 minutes, until it reduces down to 1/2 a cup. Remove the mint and lime strips (discard), and let the mixture cool.

Once cool, add 2 tablespoons chopped fresh mint, 1 tablespoon fresh squeezed lime juice and 1 tsp. grated lime rind. An easy way to cut leaves like mint (or basil) is to pile them up, roll them together like a little cigarette, and then slice all at once into strips.

Pour the mint-mixture over the fruit, and toss gently to coat. Spoon 1 cup into each of six bowls, and garnish with additional mint sprigs for a pretty presentation. Each cup is 130 calories.

Cost:
grapes (red and green) $5.99
plums $1.20
peaches $0.70
nectarines $0.79
limes $1.50
mint $1.99